Courts affected by malfunctioning AC

Wed, Mar 18th 2015, 08:53 AM

Two Supreme Courts were unable to sit a full day on Tuesday due to discomfort caused by a malfunctioning air conditioning system. Justices Roy Jones and Carolita Bethell, who are both presiding over armed robbery trials, adjourned their trials until the afternoon session to allow technicians to resolve the problem. The cases resumed on Tuesday afternoon. The South Street Magistrates' Court Complex also experienced sewer problems on Monday evening, forcing magistrates to adjourn civil and traffic cases.

The air conditioning system at the Coroner's Court in Victoria Gardens also broke down yesterday. At a special ceremony to mark the opening of the Legal Year at the Court of Appeal in January, Bar Association President Elsworth Johnson said the Bar would conduct ongoing inspections of court facilities "for the purpose of identifying and publicizing anything that may militate against the effective administration of justice".

Quoting Judge Michael A. Pansor, Johnson said, "It is widely accepted the effective administration of justice is threatened when participants in the judicial process must use inadequate, deteriorating, and unsafe courtrooms; the lack of adequate and appropriate facilities adversely impacts the judiciary's ability to provide access to justice; to effectively administer justice; and to ensure the safety and security of all participants in the judicial process."

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